Hungarian researchers managed to prepare a three dimensional microscope for the first time in human history - invention received international patent rights in 2007 and the Institute of Experimental Mediciene of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences has already prepared its prototype. This microscope will be used to carry out researches in the first laboratory of Alba Innovation Park.

A decade ago Winfried Denk and Karel Svoboda have developed the so-called two-photon microscopy in the USA which provided exploration of 2-4 unit brain cells if they fell into the same plane. This method was adopted in KOKI (Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) as well a few years ago. As spatial orientation of brain cells is vital from their operations point of view: stimuli arriving at different points of the neurons have different biological importance.

Vizi E. Szilveszter, the President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences told us that the research started in year 2000 with the inclusion of a couple of talented young colleagues. Rózsa Balázs who is a doctor and physicist by profession also took part in the work and Katona Gergely who was referred to by Vizi E. Szilveszter as a remarkable IT specialist and software maker.

Only domestic material was used for assembling the three dimensional microscope which is worth around HUF 80-100. The gist of the technology in nutshell is that the nerve cells get filled with a certain type of colouring agent in which the passing laser light brings about light reactions. This can be measured. By this method it is not only possible to register the phenomenon in a single nerve cell but hundreds of neurons in such way that their interactions with one another are also examined at the same time. The system is able to reveal replies given to stimulations in the brain in thousands of a second. Processing of the large amount of information is made possible by digital data storage and analysis which is carried out by an individually developed software."

Vizi E. Szilveszter is convinced that 3D microscopy which makes it possible to map processes in the brain in a given second means a change of paradigm in the brain research.

The method is applicable both in vitro and in vivo i.e. within and outside of the living organism in animal tests. However the method will probably become applicable in human brain surgery too. 3D microscopy will play a key role in investigation of effect mechanism of different drugs as well as in the development of new types of drugs. Foreign pharmaceutical companies have already inquired about the method.